Annecy assault: Emmanuel Macron offers replace on 4 kids stabbed – together with British woman who has ‘woken up’

Jun 09, 2023 at 11:04 PM
Annecy assault: Emmanuel Macron offers replace on 4 kids stabbed – together with British woman who has ‘woken up’

The British woman who was left with life-threatening accidents after 4 kids had been stabbed in a knife rampage within the French Alps has “woken up” and has been watching TV, France’s president has mentioned.

Emmanuel Macron added that all the pieces is “heading in the right direction” in relation to the situation of the youngsters who had been left preventing for his or her lives after the attack in Annecy on Thursday.

The injured kids additionally embody a boy and woman who’re cousins, aged two and three, and a 22-month-old German boy.

Two adults had been additionally attacked.

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‘Backpack hero’ used bag to chase knifeman

Speaking concerning the situation of the three-year-old British woman, who was on vacation within the space, Mr Macron is quoted by the AFP news company as saying: “She is watching TV and [the attack] is just a bad memory already.”

“Doctors are optimistic,” he added.

It’s understood the British girl was in the area on holiday.

France’s prime minister Elisabeth Borne had earlier mentioned all 4 kids had undergone surgical procedure and had been in a secure situation in hospital.

Mr Macron gave his replace as he visited Annecy at present and met with folks concerned in stopping the knifeman.

Among them was Henri, the so-called “backpack hero”, who used his bag to cease the attacker.

Henri instructed the French president he had acted instinctively as he tried to get the attacker to flee the realm.

He went on to ask Mr Macron if he could possibly be invited to the inauguration of Notre-Dame Cathedral – which was partially destroyed in a fire in 2019 – when it re-opens.

Mr Macron mentioned he’ll personally be sure he’s invited.

Mr Macron with 'backpack hero' Henri, furthest right. Pic: AP
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Mr Macron with ‘backpack hero’ Henri, furthest proper. Pic: AP
Mr Macron met with emergency services workers. Pic: AP
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Mr Macron met with emergency companies staff. Pic: AP

‘The most barbarous of acts’

The French president additionally used his go to to Annecy to thank emergency staff who intervened to cease the attacker.

He instructed them: “You have been remarkable.

“We owe you a large number.”

The French leader went on to say the children had been targeted in “probably the most barbarous of acts and I feel that’s what has shocked us”.

He continued: “I wished to thanks on behalf of the nation for what you probably did… Now is [the] time for you to consider yourselves, particularly those that intervened first… Some [psychological] wounds must be healed so they do not reopen later.”

Mr Macron paid a separate tribute to members of the public who intervened and said: “I’m pleased with what was accomplished by our fellow residents who merely occurred to be there. I’m pleased with the position you took on… By simply doing all your obligation, you probably did a lot greater than that.”

“You confirmed the face of a France that saves, that intervenes, that heals… You have my gratitude and my admiration,” he added.

Meanwhile, tearful well-wishers have visited the playground where the knife attack took place.

Tributes left near the scene at a lakeside park in Annecy, France, following a knife attack in which a British girl, said to be aged three, was one of four children and two adults wounded when the suspect, identified by police as a 31-year-old Syrian national who has refugee status in Sweden, attacked people with a knife in the town of Annecy on Thursday. The knifeman had been denied asylum in France just days before the attack, according to a minister. Picture date: Friday June 9, 2023. PA Photo. The British girl injured in a knife attack at a lakeside park in the French Alps is in stable condition in hospital, according to reports. See PA story POLICE France . Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.....

Attack ‘doesn’t look like terror-related’

Local prosecutor Line Bonnet-Mathis mentioned one of many adults was critically injured by each a stab wound from the attacker and a bullet wound from police as officers shot on the knifeman whereas attempting to detain him.

French inside minister Gerald Darmanin mentioned the suspect, a 31-year-old Syrian man, had tried to say asylum in France nevertheless it was refused on Sunday as a result of he had beforehand been granted asylum in Sweden 10 years in the past.

Mr Darmanin mentioned the suspect entered France legally, including: “For some reasons we don’t really understand, he applied for asylum in Switzerland, in Italy and in France, which he didn’t need to do as he already had asylum in Sweden for the past 10 years.”

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Multiple kids injured in knife assault

Witnesses mentioned the assailant shouted “in the name of Jesus Christ” as he launched the assault, which included stabbing a toddler in a pushchair repeatedly as bystanders screamed for assist.

Ms Bonnet-Mathis has mentioned the attacker’s motives had been unclear, however they didn’t look like associated to terrorism.

One of these visiting the playground on Friday was British mom of two, Katie Jackson, 39, who spoke of the shock felt given it was a spot her kids “know and love”.

She was in tears as she instructed how her son had requested to go to the park on the day of the assault.

Katie Jackson speaking near the scene at a lakeside park in Annecy, France, following a knife attack in which a British girl, said to be aged three, was one of four children and two adults wounded when the suspect, identified by police as a 31-year-old Syrian national who has refugee status in Sweden, attacked people with a knife in the town of Annecy on Thursday. The knifeman had been denied asylum in France just days before the attack, according to a minister. Picture date: Friday June 9, 2023
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Katie Jackson described the park as a ‘native treasure’

Ms Jackson moved to the city three years in the past along with her husband and has two sons, Rudy, 5, and Vinnie, 9 months.

She mentioned: “Locally we call this the pirate playground, because it has a pirate ship in it, it’s a place that our kids know and love.

“It was my son’s fifth birthday yesterday and he had talked about he could be concerned with going to the pirate place, however he was at college.

“It’s a local treasure, that’s why it’s so shocking. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t visited the pirate playground.”